Executive Summary The Arno River Basin is located in Florence, Italy. Over the last two thousand years there have been numerous floods encountered by this River. (Alexander, 1993). The most recent flood encountered by the Arno River was the flood of 1966. This was also the most damaging flood recorded. While just over one hundred deaths were declared, the city of Florence experienced an economic loss of forty billion dollars. (Done, 2011). This loss was primarily due to the large scale damage caused to the art and architecture around the city. Many of the pieces produced during the early and high Renaissance eras had been damaged, some of them permanently. Even though floods along the Arno River were relatively frequent, the city of Florence seemed unprepared for the flood of 1966. Several human errors could be attributed to the large scale damage caused by the flood. Figure 1 showing the Arno River flowing through Florence.1 Background The Arno River flood, occurring at approximately 43o47'N, 11o15'E, was one of the most damaging economic disasters since 1965. (Done, 2011). Historical records, from the time of the Romans to more recent years, have shown that floods along the Arno River are not uncommon. The most recent, major floods along the Arno River occurred in 1117, 1333, 1557, 1666, 1844 and more recently, in 1966. (Alexander, 1993). By these dates, floods along the Arno River are very likely to occur between every one to two hundred years. The city of Florence has survived at least sixty two floods along the Arno river within the last two thousand years. (Alexander, 1993). The Arno River flood of 1966 is the most recent of these floods. The Arno River is a two hundred and forty one kilometer long river which begins on Monte Falterona in Casentino, passes through Florence and flows into the Liguarian Sea near Pisa. Figure 2 illustrates the location and flow of the Arno River in Italy. Figure 2. Diagram showing the flow of the River Arno from (A) Monte Falternoa to (B) Pisa.2 The historical Arno River flood in Florence, Italy began on November 3rd, 1966 and lasted until 8:00 p.m. the next day. The flood itself had been the worst seen in the city since 1557, four hundred and nine years earlier. Flood Triggers The trigger for the flood was attributed to the intense rainfall beginning around noon on November 3rd and lasting until the evening of the following day.
Case study: the flooding that occurred in Minden Hills in the spring of 2013, flooded the downtown core. The picturesque cottage town has the Gull River flowing through it. The river overflowed in April because of many reasons: a couple of days of rain, the third largest amount in over a century, but it also happened because the frost in the ground stopped the water from going into the Earth, the lakes and rivers being full from the spring thaw, and the rapid
Ice dams in the Clark Fork area that backed up Glacial Lake Missoula actually caused some of the largest floods known to man. As ice will float, these ice dams would periodically rise up and burst, catastrophically flooding the Rathdrum Prairie, eastern Washington and into northern Oregon. Locally, these floods brought in glacial till and deep deposits of outwash that obliterated the St. Joe River once running through the Rathdrum Prairie. The southernmost edge of these deposits terminated where Coeur d’Alene exists today, damming the old St. Joe River and creating Lake Coeur d’Alene (Alt and Hyndman, 73). The new lake received the entire flow of the Coeur d’Alene and St. Joe Rivers, more than could be absorbed through the gravel deposits, thereby causing the lake to overflow and seek a new course, now known as the Spokane Ri...
A major flood on any river is both a long-term and a short-term event, particularly any river basin where human influence has exerted "control" over the ri...
In the binational area of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez flooding has become a way of life due to the scarcity of rain and desert climate. Fortunately, meteorologist, geologist and city planners are continuously working to improve city prior to a storm in order to mitigate any financial hardships during and after a flood. The city has to take in account past events in order to improve infrastructure. They also rely on meteorologist to study how the weather is reacting so they can anticipate the next system and how it will hit this region. The primary expert that contributes to this vital research are the Geologist, who have brought to light the cause and effects during drastic climate events. In this report, it will document infrastructure affects, stormwater management, Climate Whiplash and thoughts from the geologist on the desert-flood relationship.
Tapas Biswas, A. K. a. J. A., 2012. Recent Floods and Salinity of the Murray River. [Online]
Such greatness had innocuous and humble beginnings. Like all hurricanes that have existed, is existing, and will exist, the hurricane originated within the waters of the world and from the winds of the world. The temperate waters of the eastern North Atlantic Ocean gave rise to the storm upon August 31, 1900. Its birthplace was roughly 400 miles west of Africa’s Cape Verde Islands (Longshore).
References: Mairson, Alan, "The Great Flood of '93," National Geographic, vol. 93, pages 93-93. 185 (January 1994), pp. 187-187. 42-81. The s. National Biological Service, Department of the Interior, "Environmental Management Technical Center," http://www.emtc.nbs.gov (1996).
covers the area, causing people, animals, and structures to practically disintegrate. Even years afterwards people were still dying and having
It is abundantly clear how Leonardo Bruni feels about the city of Florence. In Panegyric to the City of Florence, he expresses nothing but the highest praise for the city. Every aspect of Florence is backed by a clear reason why it is the best, and there is no other city in the world that can compare. According to Bruni, Florence has extraordinary beauty, architecture, geography, history, government, and people. This, of course, is only one person’s opinion. In the diaries of Buonaccorso Pitti and Gregorio Dati, they too give their opinions on the city of Florence. In general, they do not seem to give Florence the same recognition and praise that Bruni gives.
The Johnstown Flood Stained the history of the United States. Over 2000 victims died and even more injured. The flood has been blamed on many people since it happened. One group individually brought about the flood. The South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club made selfish changes threatening the effectiveness toward holding back a water overflow. The renovation made to the dam brought about the destruction killing many people and causing millions of dollars in damages.
In August 1926, heavy rainstorms began to swell the streams in eastern Kansas, northwestern Iowa, and part of Illinois, which fed into the Mississippi River. In December of 1926, heavy rains filled the Arkansas and Red rivers. During that fall, record breaking amounts of rain continued to fall throughout the Mississippi River valley. By the end of January, the major feeding river, the Ohio River, was overflowing its banks. The Mississippi River swelled to 80 miles
Though scientists cannot agree on whether or not a global flood occurred, the effect of these stories on science has been monumental, as well as the effect of the stories on cultures and religions throughout the world. If this great flood did , in fact, occur, it’s effect on history would have been great because of the huge numbers of people lost to it. Though they may be fables, one must keep asking themselves if they may have been based on fact.
Wedeman, Ben. "Finding the 'miracle' Fountain of Italy." CNN. Cable News Network, 25 Oct. 2013. Web. 09 Feb. 2014. .
If the gradient is steep (like the example on the right) then this can indicate that the amount of rainfall becoming overland flow is very high, the result of this is that all the water reaches the river very quickly and all in a short period of time, this gives the immediate steep ascending limb on the hydrograph. Reasons for large amounts of rainfall becoming overland flow can be little vegetation and maybe impermeable rock below the surface. Being impermeable rock, the water cannot infiltrate through this and become ground water, instead it flows over the ground to the river. Urban development and agricultural practices contribute to overland flow.
In the warmer summer season however glacial ice goes through a period of melting. The source of the Brahmaputra starts in the Himalayas and an increase in melted-water flowing through its drainage basin will increase channel flow, saturate soils and cause massive overland flow – a major cause of flooding. Another major cause is the cyclonic storms t... ... middle of paper ... ... urther problems some where else.